Doing what’s needed
This Children’s Mental Health Week, we are aiming to raise awareness of how vital it is for children to get the mental health support they need, at an early stage, to prevent them from having longer-term mental health problems in the future.
With 75% of adults experiencing mental health issues before the age of 18 - it’s clear that the sooner signs indicating mental health issues in childhood are spotted, the better.
One third of 15-18-year-olds assessed by our charity partner, Action for Children, are suffering from mental health and emotional wellbeing issues.
With our funding Action for Children is working with selected schools, colleges and sixth forms across the UK to introduce the ‘Blues Programme’, ensuring young people have access to the mental health support they need, when they need it.
Through the generous donations of colleagues, and Royal Mail’s penny for penny matched giving scheme, we aim to raise £2 million to deliver this vital programme.
The Blues Programme provides mental health support to young people aged 13-19 years old who are suffering from, or at risk of developing, a mental health problem.
The programme is delivered as a six-week course helping young people to change their negative thoughts and develop coping mechanisms to better deal with stressful situations.
A massive 70% of pupils who have taken part showed an improvement in their mental health and emotional wellbeing, with a specific decrease in depression and anxiety. Pupils also reported increased confidence and self-esteem, improved relationships and better engagement at school.
Fifteen-year-old Rowan completed the Blues Programme at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff after suffering from low moods and anxiety. She said: ‘It probably seems quite a small thing but learning how to deal with my problems in a new way has made more of a difference than I could have imagined. I would be in a terribly dark place now if I hadn’t learnt how to do it.’
To play your part in supporting young people's mental health, why not sign up to take part in a challenge event by visiting www.actionforchildren.org.uk/freespaces.
